It’s been a busy year for Kelsey Merritt, whose hectic modeling stints here and abroad have made her the everywhere-girl of the moment.
“On my first trip to New York, I was there for four months,” she recalls. “A few weeks ago I went back but stayed just for a week for Vera Wang’s Fall 2015 campaign. That was probably my most memorable part of that trip. On the fourth of July, I missed the US Independence Day celebration because I was on a plane to London for Uniqlo’s Re-Jeans campaign. I was supposed to be there only for three days, but I booked other jobs in Manchester so I had to extend my stay.”
Most recently, Merritt signed up as the image model of the new Lux Perfumed Bath Collection.
The 19-year-old Merritt is on her junior year as an AB Communications major at Ateneo de Manila University.
She sat down with Backstage Pass to talk about her modeling career, school life, most-used beauty products and other essentials in her bag.
Juggling school and work
My career goals on the horizon are… for now, to walk for the Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Awesome things I was able to do because of modeling are… go to places I’ve never been to. I love to travel, which is why I’m happy that modeling goes hand in hand with it.
I also get to meet and work with people I idolize such as Patrick Demarchelier, Pascal Dangin, Vera Wang, Mark Carrasquillo, Tony Ward, Gigi Hadid, Jourdan Dunn, Emily Didonato, Joan Smalls, Cindy Bruna, and many more.
What I like about being a model is… breaking the stereotype. I may be busy traveling the world as a model but I intend to finish my education. People also think that you have to be super tall to be a model. But I’m just 5’8”.
I juggle school and work by… knowing my priorities and learning how to balance everything.
A person who has shaped the way I see fashion is… Audrey Hepburn, because when I saw her style, I fell in love with it instantly. A lot of things about me have changed—my style, my look, but what will never change is my love for Audrey Hepburn’s fashion sense.
Skincare
On my bathroom counter… I have a lot of skincare products. You will find stuff like Estee
Lauder’s Advance Night Repair Serum and Eye Serum, Embryolisse Moisturizer, Fresh Eye Cream and Lip Serum.
My daily bath involves… Herbal Essence shampoo and conditioner, Lux Magical Spell body soap and feminine wash.
I am loyal to skincare products like… Lux Magical Spell for both body wash and soap, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration, Embryolisse facial moisturizer.
Beauty essentials that I never remove from my bag are… Shu Uemura eyelash curler, YSL Blush Volupté in Heroine, Anastasia Brow Gel, Fresh lip gloss in Honey.
Body Shop collection
The holidays bring us many things like The Body Shop’s Christmas collection. Its new fragrance, Frosted Plum, has a fruit-punch-like scent including grapefruit and raspberry notes.
It also has a floral heart and a bit of musk, so it isn’t all sweetness. Its light scent is perfect for cool night strolls under the December sky with your special someone. Products come in body butters (P995), sugar scrubs (P1,295), shimmer mists (P1,195), shimmer lotions (P895), among others.
Also try The Body Shop’s new winter eye palette (P1,495) which combines stylish metallic with on-trend winter shades. Palettes come in Grooving Gold and Swinging Silver hues.
But the best news of all is that The Body Shop is partnering with WaterAid, which transforms lives in the world’s poorest communities through access to safe water. For every item bought, WaterAid can provide a family in Ethiopia with a day of safe water. Its goal is to provide over 1,000 families with safe water over the next 10 years.
Products are available in all The Body Shop boutiques nationwide.
